The White Plague [Volume: 7(1988), pp. 431-504]

THE WHITE PLAGUE
497
ADJUTANT (entering)
Dispatches from the front, Baron.
YOUNG BARON
On the desk, please.
ADJUTANT (putting a pile of telegrams on the desk)
Yes, sir. (Exits.)
ANNETTE
What shall I do when you're gone, darling?
YOUNG BARON
Just a minute. (Goes over to the table and looks through the dispatches.)
Unbelievable! Such a small country...
ANNETTE
What's the matter?
YOUNG BARON
They're fighting back! We've advanced on some fronts, but the air offensive
on the capital was a disaster: eighty planes downed! And our tanks are
meeting with fierce resistance at several points along the border.
ANNETTE
What does it mean?
YOUNG BARON
If nothing else, we've lost time. The Marshal was counting on a pre-emptive
attack. Now other countries can mobilize and come to their aid... See?
Two of the Powers have already sent us ultimata. God, things move fast...
And here's a third, a fourth... a fifth!
ANNETTE
Do you think we ought to show them to Daddy?
YOUNG BARON
We've got to... Don't worry, darling. He can take it. He won't let a few
spots get the better of him. You'll see. He'll go straight to the map and
forget everything else. He's a soldier. Point a gun at him and he won't
blink an eye...
MARSHAL (staggering into the office in an open
dressing-gown, sobbing)
O God! Jesus God! Heavenly Father!
ANNETTE
Daddy!